Justin Kirk To Star In NBC Comedy Pilot 'Animal Kingdom', In Talks For More 'Weeds'

Weeds‘ Justin Kirk is set as the lead of NBC’s single-camera comedy pilot Animal Kingdom. The office comedy centers on a House-like veterinarian (Kirk) who loves animals but usually hates their owners. Brian Gatewood and Alex Tanaka wrote the script and are executive producing with Anthony and Joe Russo, who are directing, Scot Armstrong and Ravi Nandan for Universal TV and American Work. The pilot is not expected to interfere with Kirk’s duties as a regular on the upcoming eighth season of Weeds, likely the long-running series’ last. Negotiations are still under way for him to return to the Showtime series. (The cast of the series’ contracts expired after Season 7). Kirk’s Weeds co-star Kevin Nealon, who recently booked another NBC comedy pilot, Isabel, has closed his deal for one more season of the Showtime comedy series and will do both. Kirk, who was among the sought-after actors this pilot season with multiple offers, also has recurred on ABC’s Modern Family. The actor, repped by UTA and Management 360, co-stars in the movie Goats, which premiered at Sundance.